Chinese fishing nets, as the name suggests, have their origin in China. It was successfully introduced in India by Zheng He, the Chinese explorer, around the 14th century. Since then these Chinese fishing nets were widely in use in Cochin harbour, especially in Fort Kochi. They are locally known as ”Cheenavala”. They are the hanging nets attached to bamboo and teak poles. With the combined effort of about six fishermen, the pole with a hanging net is fixed in the waters, the nets are weighed down with heavy stones tied to the ropes.
Chinese fishing nets have their mechanisms quite different from traditional nets and are more commercially profitable with a greater catch. Thus, they are widely used. The hanging nets are immersed in the seawater for several minutes and taken out by six fishermen with synchronized movements.
Fort Kochi harbour filled with Chinese fishing nets attracts several tourists to the coastal town. The photographers are often thrilled by capturing splendid pictures of Chinese fishing nets with mind-blowing sunset in the background. Dawn and dusk are the perfect timings for visiting the harbour to see the wonders. The spectacular processing of these Chinese fishing nets is indeed an amazing experience that should not be missed. This ancient cultural technique brought down from China continues to dwell in the ocean lands of Kochi, in Kerala.
